Most photographers would now agree that proficiency with photo-editing
software is also a critical skill. So we asked six photographers to
tell us about their favorite image processing applications and add-ons
as well as share their best tips for making and digitally refining
images.

A musician who loves her Mac--what’s so groundbreaking about that?
Nothing, on the surface. But Sandy Cressman, a San Francisco singer and
voice coach who specializes in Brazilian jazz and travels the world to
perform and teach workshops, simply couldn’t ply her art--or her
trade--without her MacBook Air and a slew of other digital tools.

To help get free back to its rightful place of, well free, we've
compiled a list of apps and services that are indeed free and won't
require you to sit through a pitch about how great it is to be a foster
parent to a monkey. We do want to note that some of these items are
services ors ystem preferences. But hey, they're free, so stop
complaining and enjoy.

After week 1, we've raised $81 and impacted 176 students! Donate to the DonorsChoose Challenge this week, and you could win the iHome iP71, a rad set of computer speakers with a built-in iPod dock. Follow the jump to learn more...